Yes, it is rather nice to lay the book perfectly flat on a surface. But I tend to read sitting on a couch rather than a chair, or laying in bed, and the Nook form factor is lovely but isn't as good as a book most of the time. Consider how a paperback sort of gently 'clamps' onto your thumb as you hold it, or, if you are lying on your side reading, the 'unread' side lies flat and the 'reading' side sticks up straight, perfectly. With the nook I have to balance the edge on the bed and it's not weighted down by 'unread' pages.

Maybe one day they'll release an e-reader which is more like a paperback book: cover art, hinged with two reading sides, some visual indicator of where you are in your current book, etc. More